Adjustable bottom for hampers



June 14, 1927.

l 632 270 H. T. BRADgEY B21-AL ADJUSTABLE BOTTOM FOR HAMPERS Filed sept. 22, 1925 2 shets-sheet 1 5 I .m/ 9 co3 au M R l v.. mm. u @gym wwf@ Fa, ,d rm m hrw June 14,1927. 1,632,270

H. T.y BRADLEY ET AL ADJUSTABLE BOTTOM Fon HAMPERS Filed sept. 22. 1925 z sheets-sheet 2 INVENTORS Patented .lune 14, 1927.

UNITED STATES* PATENT orifice.

HABRY T. BRADLEY AND FRANK JACOBI, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

ADJUSTABLE BOTTOM `non HAT/Trans.

Application filed September 22, 1925. Serial No. 57,804.

This invention relates to novel improve ments in portable containers, of the type known as hampers adapted to hold miscellaneous articles, as clothing, fabricated parts, bottles, fruits and like similar solid bodies during temporary storage or transportation.

Such hampers are usually of large capacand of such considerable depth that it is inconvenient and even difficult to reach articles in the lower portion of the hamper.

It is therefore the principal object ofthe invention to provide a hamper having a movable bottom capable of raising within the space bounded by the side walls to such height as to be readily accessible. f

A further feature is in the provision of means which, upon being released, will automatically elevate the bottom and maintain the same in a level plane.

Another aim is to produce means, accessible from the exterior of the hamper, whereby the elevation or depression of its bottom is controlled and held at any point within its range of action at the option of the operator.

These and other objects, which will become apparent as the description proceeds, are attained by the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter set forth in detail and shown in the accompanying drawings, constituting' an essential portion of this disclosure, and in which Figure 1 is a horizontal sectional view of a conventional type of hamper, showing a floor made in accordance with the invention, the licor being partially broken away to show the construction.

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 2-2 ofFigure 1, showing the ,floor or bottom in a partially raised position. V

Figure 3 is a fragmentary front. elevational view of one form of the elevator conf trol device.

Figure i is a partial sectional, partial top plan view, similar to Figure 1, but showing a modified form. of control device.

Figure.` 5 is a partial side elevational and sectional view of. the same, the section being taken on. line 5-5 of? Figure 4, the floor being partially raised.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary front view, broken away to disclose the construction tnd showing the floor in its lowermost posi- Y ion.

Structures of this character are usually oblong rectangles in plan and consist of a pair of longitudinally disposed skids 10 at the sides, which may be connected at their ends by cross pieces 11 forming a frame to which the side walls 12r and 13, and end walls 11i and 15 are attached, these walls eX- tending upward a considerable distance, and

.may be made of fiber, rawhide, wood or a dense woven textile fabric.

A platform 16, loosely fitting within the four walls, acts as a flooring or bottom and may be raised, together with the articles contained in the hamper, for convenience of access, or lowered to increase the capacity thereof.

The preferred elevating means is illustratedin Figures 1 to 3 inclusive and consist of two pairs of flat bars 17 or metal strips secured in spaced parallel relation to the underside of the platform 16, near its ends to entend transversely across.

A secondpair of bars 1S are provided with offset feet to rest upon the bars 17, both being held by securing means 19 passed through their ends into the platform 16 and having between them uniform parallel spaces 20.

Fixed on the skids 10 to extend between them are other bars 21 and 22, held by screws 23 and having between them spaces 24.

Between the bars 17 and 18 are blocks 25, connecting the pairs at each end, and between the bars 21 and 22 are spacers 26 as best seen in Figure 2. i

A pair ofV longitudinal rods 27 and 28 vare bent to present right angled arms 29 and 36 at each end, these arms being again bent at their extremities to provide pintles 31 and 32 on which are mounted rollers 33 and 34 operative in the spaces' 20, the arms being pivoted at their points lof intersection by pins 35, forming in effect a pair of lazy tong elements.

Rotatably mounted on the ends of the main portion of the rods 27 and 28 are other rollers 36 and 37 operative respectively in the spaces 24, at the bottom of the structure.

A. pair of tension springs 3S connect between one ofthe rods', as 27 and the bars 21, tending te draw the vrods-inward towards the center ot the hamper, this movement obviously causingthe arms 29 and 30- to pivot at 35, changing the angle at which they are inclined to one more nearly erect,

thus elevating the platlorm 16. Y

Fixed to one of the rods, as 27, is a flexible cord 39, running lover a sheave pulleyV Attached below each ot the bars 2:2 are- Vbrackets4l having;r loops ,in which is rotatably mounted a shaft 42 extending lengthwise of the structure at about its center,y and 'fixed on theshaft is a collar 43 formed on a lever 44. Y

Pivotally engaging the free end of the lever 44 is a linlr 45 connected withone ol the rods, as 28, see Figures l and One end yof the shaftv 42 extends out.

through the end wall 14 of the Vstructure and'has rigidly secured to it a hand lever 46 provided with a knob 47 at its outer-end and a detent 4 8 on its inner side to engage. in any of the notches 49 in a sector yfixed on the wall 14.

From the foregoing it will be seen that by actuating the hand lever 46, the platform 16 may be elevated or depressed, raising being assisted by the springs 38, and, due to the notched segment, the platform may be retained" in either its lowest or highest position, or at any point therebetween,at the will of the operator and without much physical effort. j

In the modified means shown in Figures 4 to 6 inclusive, the same general const-ruc-y tion is maintained except the shaft and the lever device is omitted and other means substituted.

These means comprise `a pair of arms 51 fixed `to the rod 27 to extend into a krecess in the adjacent skid 10. the otherends ot the arms being connected by hinges 52 to .bars 53 extending,l through the front wall l2 ot the hamper to a rigid cross bar 54.

lWhen the platform is'in its lowermost position, the arms 5l and bars 53am in the same level plane and the bars may be vfolded on their hinges 52 upward alongside the wall l2 and held by Vmeans of a hook Y 55 engaged in an eye 56 set in thewall, the

hook being ennageable in an eye 57 lixedin the cross bar 54.

From the :foregoingrv it will'be seen that means have been provided which render' the manipulation of a hamper unusually convenient. f w j f Although we have described our improvements with considerable detail .and with respect to certain particular forms of our iiwention` we do not desire to be limited to such details ,since many changes and modiications may well be made without departing from the spirit and scope ol our invention in its broadest aspect. Y j

Having thus described our invention, what, we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-,-

l. A hamper comprising four walls, a bottom adjustable up and down therebetween, spaced bars attached to the under Surface ol saidv bottom, other spaced bars fixed on the hamper trame, rods disposed longitudinally below said bottom having .their ends bent to form angular arms, said bottom adjustable up and down therebetween, spaced bars attached to the under surfaceot' said bottom,l other spaced bars fixed on the hamper frame, rods disposed longitudinally below said bottom having their ends bent to form angular arms pivoted midway their length one to the other near their ends of the hamper, rollers on said rods operable in the spaces of the frame carried bars, other rollers carried at the ends ol the arms operable in the spaces of the bars on said bottom, spring constraining means for said rods, means for equalizing` the movement of said rods, and means for limiting the motion' that can be imparted to said rods. f

3. A hamper comprising four walls, a bottom adjustable up and down therebetween, spaced bars attached to the under surface of said bottom, other spaced bars fixed on the hamper frame, rods having angularly bent armspivoted midway their length one to the other near the ends'of thehamper, rollers on said rods operable in the spaces ot the frame carried bars, other rollers carried at the end-sof the arms operable in the spaces of the bars on said bottom, spring constraining means for said rods, means for equalizing the movement of said' rods, a shaft jo'urnalled lengthwise below the frame carried bars, a lever fixed on said shaft, a link engaging between said leverand one4 of said rods, and a hand lever to oseillatesaid shaft whereby said bottom may be elevated or'depressed. Y v

4. The combination with a platform and ,a pair ofskids, of a pair of bars'secured transverselyto' the bottom of said platform near each end thereof,` said bars consisting of upper and 'lower membershaving parallel spaces therebetween, 4a. second pair of similar towards each other, a pulley mounted on one of said skids, a flexible Connection between said rods, said connection passing over said pulley, and means engaging one of said rods whereby it may be moved laterally with reference to the other rod.

This specification signed and witnessed this 13th day of July, 1925.

HARRY T. BRADLEY. FRANK JACOBI. 

